AN: It's been a while, sorry for the wait. Hope this helps stave off the boredom as we all stay at home. Stay safe people.

Chapter 25 - Summertime Meetings

"Sorry, but the number you called is unavailable."

Those were the words that Harry had heard multiple times. It had become a regime everyday. Make breakfast for the Dursleys, check the Daily Prophet, check the assortment of Muggle newspapers that Vernon subscribed to, do some of his summer homework and then call Anne.

The regime so far was still young, only five days old. In the five days, his sister had yet to pick up a single one of his calls. Still, a person can hope. He dialled the number Anne had provided him, wondering not for the first if this was an elaborate prank.

His phone beeped as it tried to connect. Harry lay on his bed, the Nokia against his ear. Suddenly, there was a buzz and the call went through. Harry flung himself to his feet, surprised that his call was picked up.

"Hello? Anne?"

There was a pause.

"Anything going on, Harry?"

"No, I just thought... you want to meet up?"

"I'll try. I'll call you back if I can."

There was a click and the call was hung up. Harry plopped back down onto the bed, scooping up the letters left on the floor. Sirius, Ron and Hermione, letters from each of them giving some vague words and advice to keep a low profile.

Harry snorted at those letters, two weeks of being stuck in the Dursleys and he could feel himself getting more and more restless. It was half an hour before his phone rang and he snatched it up from the table, answering the call immediately.

"We can meet, see you outside."

That was all he got before the call was unceremoniously hung up once more. Shrugging to himself, he kept the phone in his pocket, his wand followed suit. Ignoring Vernon and Petunia's pointed glares, he stepped out of the house and began walking down the same path that had led to Anne days ago.

Ending up at the same street, he saw her sister leaning nonchalantly against a streetlight, looking at the children frolic in the nearby playground. Coming closer to her, Harry noticed that her right hand was completely bandaged, the white of the dressing contrasting the grey of her jacket. Once again, too many questions rose in his mind when he saw her.

"Hi... what happened to your hand?" Harry asked, pointing at the bandaged hand.

"Hmmm? Oh, this?" Anya waved the covered hand. "Got burned."

"Don't you have spells for that?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Anya shook her head, firing a question of her own. "What do you want to do?"

"Anything, we can just walk around," Harry suggested, leading the way.

The two fell into step, walking down the neighbourhood in silence. A silence that Harry was starting to grow uncomfortable with. He glanced at Anya and saw that she seemed content with the silence, opting to observe her surroundings.

"How did you get here?" Harry broke the silence.

"Portkey."

"And you had me waiting for half an hour because...?" Harry knew that portkeys were almost instantaneous in their travel, a fact that conflicted with the waiting time.

"Had to get rid of your babysitter."

"Mr Weasley?" Harry guessed, a creeping frustration coming back against his wizarding contacts that refused to let him know what was going on.

"No, some mangy person in rags," Anya answered, scrunching her nose in distaste. "Could have sworn I saw that face in Knockturn Alley."

"Nothing permanent, I hope," Harry had to make sure, knowing his sister's penchant for violent spells.

Anya shook her head, handing him a wrapped package which she took out from her jacket. Harry took it, trying to get a feel of its contents. It felt leathery, with a few hard parts. He looked back at Anya in confusion.

"I don't know when your birthday is," she explained. "It may have passed for all I know, so here it is. Happy belated or early birthday."

"Thanks," Harry nodded, a slight twinge of guilt that he could not reciprocate her gift. "You're early though, my birthday is thirty-first of July."

"So is yours," Harry added, his eyes darting back towards Anya. "When do you celebrate your birthday then?"

"Few days ago."

"Should have gotten you something," Harry muttered. "Anyways, what did you get me?"

"Find out yourself," Anya snorted, gesturing towards the package.

Harry tore open the package as they walked, taking out the object inside. It was a wand holster, with straps for either the wrist or the waist. Harry recalled Anya's statement of him needing a holster for his wand.

"Thanks," Harry grinned.

Anya nodded with a small smile.

"How about I treat you to lunch?" Anya suggested. "The town is not that far away."

"Are you serious?" Harry swung his head in surprise.

Anya gave a jerk of her head, as though saying 'why not?', and increased her pace to lead Harry down the main road out of the suburbs.

XXXXX

"I still think you are an idiot."

"It alright, the feeling is mutual."

"Fuck off."

"Hey, not my fault! Who keeps petrol in an office?"

"Fuck you! Who uses thermite paste to crack open a door when wands exist?"

Jen and Dimitri lay prone on the top of a four-storey building, watching the latter's burning handiwork a block away. They turned back to their omniculars, peering through the lens. At a nearby clearing stood a small gathering of people. The two hundred metre radius was laced with wards to prevent eavesdroppers, wards that Jen and Dimitri had cracked through undetected.

Two people from the gathering broke off to check on the burning building, the sirens of the local fire department could be heard in the distance.

"If they got scared off, you owe me a very nice meal," Jen declared, looking at the nervous gathering that did not disperse despite the nearby fire. Had they been in their shoes, alarm bells would have fired off in their heads. The people were either unprofessional and inexperienced or they really needed to meet the other party due to a small window. "Can't believe they're still sticking around."

"They're the real idiots," Dimitri snorted, lighting a cigarette with a prod of his wand.

"You're smoking on the job?"

"Fuck you, it calms my nerves."

"Bad addiction, mate."

"Better than Anya's."

There was a pregnant pause when those words were spoken. The two looked at each other awkwardly before Dimitri started to shift uncomfortably, cracking first.

"Yeah, let's not talk about that," Dimitri muttered.

"You talked to her about that yet?" Jen asked.

"I'm always the one that has to talk to her about that," Dimitri retorted. "She's not doing it as much... I thought I said let's not talk about that."

"Fine, fine, they're starting to move."

Their attention returned to the gathering, which started buzzing with activity. A truck appeared out from nowhere with a loud pop that even they could hear. From the looks of it, the Muggles in the vicinity could not. The people in the clearing drew their wands and began casting spells. Jen and Dimitri could make out a slight distortion in the omniculars.

"They're moving something, loading it in the truck," Jen muttered.

Dimitri cursed softly under his breath. "Concealment spells. Good ones too, we didn't even notice them."

"We're going to have to tail that truck," said Jen, watching as the men below levitated something onto the truck. "Would be so much easier with Anya here."

"She spoils us with her eye," Dimitri commented as the doors of the truck closed shut before it disappeared with another popping sound. "Govno… we're going to have them tail them across the whole of Britain aren't we?"

"And recce each of the locations they stop at," Jen sighed, climbing onto his feet as the men in the clearing disappeared as well. "We better move fast before the magical signatures fade away."

XXXXX

"Wow... Anne, you didn't have to do all this," said Harry gratefully, his hand holding the leftovers of their lunch in a take-away bag.

It was the best meal he had in summer so far, which was expected of when living with the Dursleys. He was pretty sure he would not be eating fish and chips of that standard until he got back to Hogwarts or if the Weasleys would ever invite him over.

"Small matter," said Anya tersely.

They had spent the meal talking about everyday things, like school life and summer homework. Then, the conversation took a hard turn when Anne started asking about their parents, something Harry was very glad to indulge her in. Most of what Harry knew came from the letters Sirius had sent him during the summer after his third year.

And from what it seemed - though maintaining a cool disposition - Anne did enjoy those stories, smiling appreciatively as Harry regaled her with stories of the Marauders' exploits. One particularly hilarious story involving Professor McGonagall and catnip actually had Anne laughing.

Harry had paused when he saw her laughing, it was different from all the other times where it sounded dry. This time, it seemed more like the radiant happiness he had glimpsed upon during the Third Task, it was genuine. His heart had soared with high hopes as he continued on talking about James and Lily, even until now when they were leaving the restaurant. This was what it should have been like. Smiles and laughter.

"Do you believe me?"

Harry's words caused the mood to take a sharp turn, but he wanted confirmation. The isolation had made him a little desperate, he would not deny that.

"About what?" asked Anya, raising an eyebrow.

"Voldemort, and him returning."

"Yes."

A smile crept up on Harry's face, leave it to Anne to believe him.

"Mom and dad," said Harry abruptly. "I saw them at the graveyard where I fought Voldemort, it was their ghosts... shadows."

He sneaked a glance at Anya and saw that she was looking into the distance, a strange look in her eyes.

"They spoke to me," Harry croaked. "Said they loved me and to look after you."

"They spoke about you too," Harry turned to face Anya. "They said that they-"

"Love me and that they are so proud of me."

Harry sucked in his breath when he heard those words, it was not a question, it was a statement. He stared hard at Anya who had now kept her eyes straight ahead and noticed her biting her lower lip, the movement was minute, barely noticeable but he caught it.

She slipped up.

Harry almost thought his heart stopped. She was there for Voldemort's resurrection, it was a wild idea but it had to be. There was simply no way she could have predicted Lily's words. But how?

For a moment, Harry panicked at the idea that she had been one of those masked Death Eaters in the circle but that could not be it. Voldemort was just recalling his old guard, the Death Eaters from the previous war. If that was the case, where was she?

It hit him hard like a rampaging hippogriff, she wielded a pistol that was likely real, which meant a possible familiarity in firearms and she had likely been present for Voldemort's resurrection. Three distant and unconfirmed assumptions, but they added up to form one unsettling possibility. Voldemort and the two dead Death Eaters. It was not a deus ex machina. It was Anne. Anne was there to provide a distraction, saving his life. Anne placed a bullet in between Voldemort's eyes. Anne killed two Death Eaters.

Watch over Anne, will you? Because she is doing the same right now, for you.

Those words from his mother, the way she looked away in a certain direction, the way she looked at something as though it was there. A chill ran down his spine as goosebumps erupted all over him. It was too much of a coincidence, all of it. So many things that did not make sense and yet added up to unbelievable facts, it completely fitted Anne's modus operandi. Suddenly, his mother's words at the graveyard made so much sense, Anne really was watching over him.

"Anne... you... you..." Harry stuttered, trying and failing to articulate his words. "How?"

"Hmm? Did I guess right?" Anya tilted her head to appraise him coolly. "Mom and dad's words? It does sound like the usual warm parental words they would say."

Harry grabbed her shoulder, turning her around to face him. His face was a mixture of disbelief and shock, hers was blank.

"You... you were there, weren't you?" said Harry.

"There for what?" she replied, her face one of perfect confusion so believable Harry would have bought if he had not suspected otherwise.

"Anne, don't give me that," Harry scowled. "I saw Voldemort and two Death Eaters go down. People keep saying it was my wandless magic but I know better. It was you, wasn't it? It had to be you."

"And how exactly would I have been able to leave Hogwarts in the middle of a tournament I was participating? On top of that, how do I even take down Voldemort and two Death Eaters without being detected?"

"You're not denying it," Harry pointed out.

"There's nothing to deny in the first place," Anya snorted.

"Don't you trust me?" Harry tried a different approach.

"No."

"Why?"

A shrug. He always hated it when she shrugged. Harry groaned, feeling like he was losing the progress he had made with Anne. He did not know what to feel, happiness or anger, they were two polar emotions swirling within his gut. Anne alway had to be difficult. Harry sighed, opting for the simplest choice as he pulled Anya into a tight hug.

"Thanks for looking after me," he said softly. "Regardless of whether or not you were at Voldemort's resurrection."

"Glad I could please," Anya replied nonchalantly, pulling herself out from the hug as they continued down the street.

"I realised something," said Harry, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion. "You have nothing against me calling you Anne."

"Well..." Anya dragged out the word, tilting up her head in thought. "It's just the two of us and as I've said before, you deserve some chance."

Harry's face split into a wide smile. Progress. One bright ray of joy in this bleak grey summer. Anya caught his smile and a look flashed past her eyes, so brief Harry almost failed to catch it. Was it pity?

Choosing to ignore it, two twins settled down at a playground not to far from the Dursleys, sitting at the swings. For a moment, the two simply sat in silence, having dried out the stories Harry had gotten from Sirius. This time, Anya chose to break it. Her eyes were fixed at the general direction of the Dursleys.

"Your place is very well warded," Anya observed. "Blood wards of the highest quality, nobody would even be able to lay a scratch on you."

"What? Blood wards?" Harry sputtered. "At the Dursleys?"

Anya nodded, still staring in the distance. Her eye roved over the faraway houses as though she could see something, Harry simply did not have a clue to his sister's antics.

"What are blood wards?"

"Magical protection based on familial blood, one of the best magical protection a person can place on a home. I thought you knew."

"What? No, of course not," Harry said in surprise. "The Dursleys hate magic."

"Sirius passed you to Hagrid and he to Dumbledore, huh?" Anya mused. "I suppose Dumbledore's the one who placed those blood wards. Good use of our aunt, I guess."

The Dursleys house was under magical protection. That alone was a huge revelation to Harry, he could only imagine Vernon's purple face if he ever knew the freakishness that was placed on his house. Then again, it now made sense as to why Dumbledore had always insisted on him returning to the Dursleys each time. Once more, a sense of anger coursed through him as he was reminded that important information was purposely withheld from him.

"Credit to the headmaster," Anya nodded like a connoisseur savouring fine wine. "The wards are very good."

"Yet Dumbledore doesn't trust me enough to tell me this," Harry muttered bitterly. "Complete fucking bollocks."

Anya simply shrugged slightly, allowing him to continue.

"He doesn't have to go this far," Harry spat out angrily. "He could have told me something, anything. Even Sirius, Ron and Hermione restrict what they tell me. I'm safe for Merlin's sake!"

"No you're not," Anya countered softly. "If I was actually carrying out the contract that day, you would have been dead by the roadside with a bullet through your head.

Harry gaped blankly at Anya, shocked by her words. "But the blood wards- "

"Are only effective if you stay within boundaries."

"Are you telling me to stay in the house?" said Harry indignantly.

"No," Anya replied calmly. "You already have bodyguards and I have no responsibility over you aside from some obligation from Sirius, you do whatever you want."

"Are you serious?" Harry chuckled. "Wait, obligation from Sirius?"

"Yep," said Anya, popping the 'p'. "He told me what he told you, watch over your twin."

"Is that why you're here?" Harry asked, wondering if she was here on Dumbledore's orders as well.

"One part of it," said Anya. "Other part is that I thought it'd be nice. After all, I'll be leaving Britain after I get my OWLs, might as well take the chance, you know?"

The declaration was a bombshell and the silence deafening. Harry's jaw dropped into a wide 'O' as he stared at Anya. A minute went by before Harry could feel his jaw again, pulling at the muscles frozen by frigid disbelief. Harry ended up gaping at his sister, it had almost become an annoying habit but he could not help it.

"Leaving!?" Harry exclaimed. "You're leaving!?"

Anya nodded, hopping off the swing and brushing off the imaginary dust on her pants. "Yeah, I'm just here for my OWLs and it's likely back to Russia for me."

"But... but..." Harry leapt onto his feet as well, staring at Anya. "Why?"

"It's the only reason I came to Britain and Hogwarts in the first place," Anya explained. "Get the OWLs from Hogwarts and that's all."

Harry knew he should not be surprised, but he still was. He had been expecting her to stay up till the NEWTs before she even began talking about returning back to Russia. Suddenly, the vague warning she gave him during their first meeting made so much more sense, just that he misinterpreted it.

"Why not take the NEWTs as well?" Harry asked, a little too desperately for the question to be one of curiosity. "Why do you have to go back to Russia for your NEWTs?"

"I'm not taking NEWTs at all, Russia or Britain," said Anya. "In fact, these two years in Hogwarts will be the only time I actually go to a school."

"You've never been to school!?" Harry gasped. Why did she always have to drop bombshells after bombshells?

"Taught at home by my family."

"Then why did you even come to Hogwarts?"

"Gringotts inheritance," explained Anya, checking her belongings before starting to leave. "Because of some rule our grandmother made, I needed an OWL level education in Hogwarts to inherit."

"Gringotts inheritance?" Harry repeated.

"Ummhmm," Anya hummed as confirmation. "I'm entitled to half of the Potter fortune if I get my OWLs from Hogwarts."

"That's why you came?" Harry asked.

"Just said it didn't I?" Anya snorted in amusement as she turned to walk down the street. "I have places to go, see you soon."

"Must you leave?" Harry called after her. "Can't you stay here in Britain?"

Anya looked back and gave a small smile before shaking her head.

"This isn't home."

"Home is where the family is," Harry pleaded.

"Exactly."

Harry deflated, realising that he was not the only family in Anne's life. He remembered her visitors during the lunch before the Fourth Task. The smile and look of joyous surprise she wore when they came stirred envy within him.

"Goodbye," Harry muttered, waving to Anya sadly. Anya replied with a curt nod and walked away, turning around a corner and out of sight.

XXXXX

"Ah, it's a great pleasure to have you here Mr Seryy," Cyrus Greengrass shook the hand of Aleksandr who had just stepped out from the fireplace.

The lanky Russian shifted aside to make way for Anya who arrived shortly, stepping out from the green flames. Astoria gave her a cheery wave from the back, Daphne acknowledging her with a nod.

While Cyrus talked with Aleks, Astoria noticed Anya taking the opportunity to acquaint herself with her surroundings. The manor she lived in was opulent but not overly so to be considered gaudy. Rather than the gilded decorations and marble one would come to expect from the wealthy Purebloods, especially those of nobility, the manor had walls and floor made of rich dark oak. Lighter shades of wood were applied tastefully to create an elegant contrast in the hall.

Ornate carvings were few, instead, the sense of opulence came from spacious ceilings and the gentle curves of the walls and pillars. Oddly enough, Astoria could pick up a hint of familiarity in Anya's eyes as she observed her home. Maybe Anya's home back in Russia had a similar style. Another thing to note down.

Wood was a good choice compared to the marble, stone and gold, in Astoria's opinion. Under sufficient lighting, it gave off an air of warmth unlike the cold vibes that emanated from marble and metal whenever she visited the manors of other affluent Purebloods.

"Likewise, Mr Greengrass," Aleks replied calmly. "I do believe we have much to discuss."

"Astoria, do show your friend around the place. After all, you are the one who invited them," said Cyrus genially. "Daphne, let mother know that Mr Seryy and I will be in the sitting room."

Both girls nodded before the older one turned to leave the hall, giving Anya one final nod as she walked away, presumably to find her mother. Anya tilted her head at Astoria, giving her the cue to lead the way.

"Your place looks nice," Anya commented.

"It is," Astoria nodded. "But a little boring."

"Whinging," Anya smirked.

"Oh please," Astoria glared at her, though her gaze lacked any real heat. "That's not real whinging, it was only a comment."

Astoria led her around, from the locked basement where her father supposedly kept the family secrets to the attic which provided a sweeping view of the fields yonder. Despite her constant complaints of her home back in Hogwarts, she still showed and explained the various places of her home with unrestrained glee. She could see Anya smiling all the way, a rare sight back in Hogwarts. Astoria knew full well her bubbly personality endeared herself to Anya.

"So what do you think your uncle and my father are talking about?" Astoria leaned in to ask her conspiratorially as she began to lead Anya to the gardens.

"I'm happier off not knowing," Anya shrugged. "But instead of theorising the possible dry topics going on in the sitting, tell me what are those? Or rather, why are they here?"

Astoria nodded in agreement before following Anya's finger which was pointing towards the trees around the garden. She soon caught sight of a bunch of moving twigs meandering about the branches of the trees.

"Oh, bowtruckles," she explained. "Father likes to keep trees with wand quality wood. Naturally, the bowtruckles come along with the trees, they supposedly protect the tree from pests."

"Your gardens are huge," Anya noted. "Why do you even get bored?"

"Please," Astoria rolled her eyes. "They haven't changed in thirteen years and I'm hardly allowed to wander far into the gardens. It's usually just staying indoors for me."

"Just reading, arts and lessons from father and mother," Astoria shrugged. "What do you use to do back at your home?"

She cast a sideways glance at Anya, wondering how much information she was going to reveal this time. She already had a vague idea about Anya's life from the various hints she had picked up observing her at Hogwarts. From her speech to her habits and to her subconscious actions, she noted all of them down. Then, she would spend time theorising just who Anya was, usually during the most appropriate time: History of Magic class. Whatever it was, she knew Anya did not have the same childhood as others. She was much too wary and cautious

"Wander around town, read, shoot, play around with runes, watch TV," Anya listed down her day to day activities, still watching the bowtruckles go about hunting the insects encroaching on the trees.

It did not sound like childhood trauma, but that just meant she was hiding something as usual. Astoria chose to nod, inwardly proud that she knew what a TV was. Her time spent with Anya had taught her plenty about the Muggle world that her parents had spoken against. In fact, the Muggle Studies textbook she had bought was a wealth of information on its own, explaining so much about the Muggle world. The book had went in great depth explaining Muggle photography and cinematography, its technical details and cultural impact.

However, there were glaring problems that Astoria could easily notice. The entire syllabus was written by Muggleborns - rightly so - resulting in blood purists boycotting them. That was just a fraction of the problem, Muggle Studies was just not popular in general. Purebloods just relied on Muggleborns and Half-bloods to deal with Muggle-related matters and the Muggleborns and Half-bloods themselves simply did not bother with that subject unless they were looking for an easy grade - something Astoria suspected Anya of doing - or were looking to specialise in Wizarding-Muggle relations and legislations. The latter seldom bore fruit simply because any new concepts relating to Muggles had to survive the gauntlet that was the Wizengamot.

Something just did not sit right with her life and the world she was living in. However, she shoved those secondary thoughts aside, choosing to focus on enjoying herself. She dragged Anya back into the manor, leading her to one of the many pianos scattered about the manor.

"Have you played the piano before?" Astoria asked as she lifted the fallboard.

"Yeah."

"Nice," Astoria grinned. "Play something for me."

Anya lifted her eyebrows in amusement.

"Anything," Astoria pleaded. "Your best or favourite piece."

Anya obliged, settling herself down and resting her fingers on the keys. Her shoulders rised as she took in a deep breath and when it fell, so did the keys. A low chord reverberated through the air for a few seconds before Anya began to move her fingers once more. The notes started to fall and Astoria could slowly pick out the tune and rhythm. Slow and fast, fast and slow. Astoria recalled the name of the piece.

A Divinator's Sonata, by Maximilian Malfoy, late 1750s if she recalled her mother's lessons correctly. Astoria perked up with intrigue when she heard the piece. One more point towards being Pureblood, she had been keeping tabs on the 'scores' for Anya based on her behaviour. Pureblood, Half-blood and Muggleborn, she had created a reliable profiling during her first year in Hogwarts.

The piece Anya was playing was popular among the Purebloods and hardly heard of from the Half-bloods and Muggleborns. Re-tabulating the scores in her head, Astoria pouted internally, the high Half-blood score was expected but the roughly equal scores of Pureblood and Muggleborn was annoyingly cryptic. Then again, that was what she had initially enjoyed about Anya.

When the final notes died off, Astoria gave a small round of applause, cheering softly but enthusiastically.

"Another one?" Astoria grinned.

"How about we take turns?" Anya countered.

Astoria nodded in agreement and Anya gave up the seat to her, Astoria placed her fingers on the keyboard and immediately began playing as though it was her second nature. All the lessons she had been given had to be worth something after all.

Once again, music filled the air as her fingers danced deftly around the ivory keys. Chaconne in F minor, Muggle in origins but it still made headway into Pureblood circles.

"I thought you alway felt bored at home," Anya jibed. "You look like you're having fun."

"Some things are just better shared others," Astoria replied cheerily.

From the corner of her eye, Astoria could make out a strange look in Anya. A spark in her eye that danced about deeply and slowly. There were a few times she caught that look, but she had yet to figure it out.

"Very true," Anya chuckled.

They took turns playing, talking like they did on the streets of London. All topics were free to bring up and Astoria savoured the unrestricted nature of the conversation, it was something she had grown to enjoy and love from Anya's company, maybe Zabini and Nott too which could possibly be the reason her sister dated one of them.

Slowly, the two expended all the songs they knew. Astoria played only the pieces Purebloods knew while Anya had a more varied though less skilled repertoire. The two walked past the sitting room where they noticed that various privacy spells were active, Cyrus and Aleks were still discussing politics.

"How about we go to my room?" said Astoria.

The question became more of a statement when Astoria began walking up the stairs to her room without looking back. Astoria had briefly showed Anya her room during the tour, so there was less looking around on Anya's part.

"Want to help me with my homework?" Astoria asked jokingly, nodding towards the scrolls of parchment on her desk.

Anya simply snorted, turning her attention to the books adorning the shelves. Astoria bounded towards her bed, landing on her belly as she reached into a nearby drawer to pull out a deck of Exploding Snap.

"Cards?" Astoria held up the deck for Anya to see, smiling brightly.

Straight away, Astoria saw that strange look in Anya, the slow spark in her eyes. A peculiar smile flashed by so fast Astoria could have sworn it was a trick of the light. Blinking, Astoria looked at Anya once more and saw the usual amused smile on her lips.

"Sure," said Anya, settling herself down on the bed as well.

XXXXX

Anya waved goodbye to the Greengrass family, trailing behind Aleks. Astoria unwillingly bade her farewell, though she still maintained her boundless joy. Daphne had been the cold and calculating person she was famed in Hogwarts for, giving her a curt nod. Cyrus and Isabel Greengrass were in the middle, friendly but calculating nonetheless. The entire family was sharp and Anya could tell despite their low profile they were still a force to be reckoned with.

"Mr Seryy, I do hope to further discuss more matters with you," said Cyrus. "They were very enlightening."

"Likewise, Mr Greengrass."

Aleks threw the Floo powder into the fires and muttered his destination before disappearing.

"And Ms Seryy."

Anya turned and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Do visit again as well, I'm sure Astoria would be glad."

Anya gave a slight bow before stepping into the green flames of the fireplace, spinning as the Floo sent her away. She stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron and increased her pace to catch up with Aleks who was leaving the establishment and into Muggle London.

"Anything I should know?" Anya probed.

"Greengrass will be cooperative," said Aleks, casting a Notice-Me-Not Charm instinctively. "Not sympathetic or allied yet, but it's a start. Your warm relationship with the younger Greengrass helped a lot in breaking the tension and establishing good rapport, Cyrus Greengrass cares very much for his children."

"That good," Anya muttered lazily, her right eye focusing on the faint reflection on the windscreen of a parked car beside them, allowing her to check their rear for anyone tailing them without turning around.

"Speaking of the younger Greengrass, I can see why you enjoy her company so much."

"Can you now?" Anya replied sardonically.

"Reminds me of her," Aleks glanced at her direction, observing her demeanor.

Anya kept a cool mask on her, edging closely to frosty.

"But she's not her," said Aleks, his words sounding like a reminder. "You can't replace her now, can you?"

"No," Anya murmured softly, pausing for a moment. "She's not."

Slowly, she bit her lip, hard. Aleks was slightly surprised that it did not bleed.

"No one can ever replace her."